Majority of school measures headed for victory

Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Bay Area schools were big winners, with 9 of 10 local funding measures headed for victory Tuesday night.

Voters were supporting six of seven facilities bonds on the ballots, with partial returns showing those measures getting the required 55 percent approval rate.

The three parcel taxes on the ballot - Oakland Unified School District's Measure G, Ravenswood's Measure M in East Palo Alto and Kentfield's Measure A in Marin County - were also winning, carrying the required two-thirds voter support.

Given the dire state budget projections and the governor's proposed $4 billion cut to schools, the results of Tuesday's election could spur other districts across the region to consider similar measures for the June and November elections this year. Unlike bonds, which can only be used to pay for capital improvements, parcel taxes can be applied to cover a wide range of costs, including salaries and benefits.

In Oakland, Measure G had 82 percent support in the 46 percent of precincts reporting. An Alameda County Superior Court judge had required polls to stay open until 10 p.m. to accommodate voters in several precincts.

The district has been under state control since 2002 when it needed a $100 million bailout loan to ward off bankruptcy. Oakland Unified pays $3.5 million in annual principal and interest payments on that loan.

Measure G doesn't increase local property taxes, but extends indefinitely a current $195-per-parcel tax that raises $20 million in unrestricted funds each year. That tax is set to expire next year.

The parcel tax accounts for 4 percent of the district's $450 million annual budget. The money will pay for smaller class sizes, increased pay and benefits for teachers and programs including art and music.

In Marin County, Kentfield voters extended an existing tax on single-family properties of $774 per parcel, with a 5 percent increase each year and exemptions for seniors. The tax currently raises about $2.6 million per year.

The other parcel tax, in East Palo Alto's Ravenswood school district, was passing. With 11 percent of precincts reporting, 71 percent of voters were supporting the measure. It would cost property owners $98 per parcel and raise $518,000 per year.

Passage of the six facilities bonds would mean an infusion of $752.3 million across the Bay Area for new school facilities and upgrades to old ones.

In the East Bay, Albany school officials were waiting on Measure E, which would support a new swimming pool. With 1 of 13 precincts reporting, 65 percent of voters were supporting the tax.

The $10 million bond would allow the district to replace its old facilities with a new pool and attached facilities at Albany High School for use by both the city and school district.

The existing pool unexpectedly closed on Jan. 2 as workers dealt with a bad pump. The bond would cost local property owners up to $60 per $100,000 in assessed value.

Elsewhere, the following bonds also were headed for victory:

-- Sequoia Union High School District (San Mateo County), Measure J - a $165 million facilities bond with a cost of $10 per $100,000 assessed value: 62 percent yes with 37 percent of precincts reporting.

-- San Mateo-Foster City Elementary School District, Measure L - a $175 million facilities bond with a cost of $30 per $100,000 assessed value: 74 percent yes with 48 precincts reporting.

-- Geyserville Unified School District, Measure A - a $3.3 million facilities bond with an estimated cost of $22 per $100,000 assessed value: 62 percent yes with all precincts reporting.

-- East Side Union High School District (San Jose), Measure E - a $349 million facilities bond with an estimated cost of $19 per $100,000 assessed value: 70 percent yes with 26 percent of precincts reporting.

Losing was Napa Valley Community College Measure L, a $178 million facilities bond, with a cost of $25 per $100,000 of assessed value: 48 percent yes, with 21 percent of precincts reporting.